Refrigerating apparatus



MarCh 21, 1933. G. F. HOFFERBERTH 1*902445 REFRIGERATING APPARATUS HIS ATTORNEYS March 21, 1933. Q HFFERBERTH A 1,902,445

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 27, 1931 2 sheets-sheet 2 ugs ,54 /55 3:9 4'5 4,5

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BY 1 WIM/MM' 4g H15 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT I-"FICEv GEORGE F. HOFFEEBimTH, 0F DAYTON, OHIO, `ASSIGNOR T0 FRIGIDAIRE COBPUBATION, OF DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPOATION 0F DELAWARE REFRIGERATIN G APPARATUS application area February 27, 1931. serial no. 518,688.

This invention relates to refrigerating ap-` paratus, and more particularl to mechanisms for releasngice trays rom the ice making compartments of refrigerating apparams.

Heretofore various mechanisms `have been proposed for breakingthe ice bond between an ice tray and its support within the ice making compartment of a refrigerating system. These mechanisms have not been entirely satisfactory because, not being covered or protected against the accumulation of water, they have invariably become frozen and locked in inoperative position. Furthermore, after an ice bond has been broken with the prior mechanisms it has been necessary to manually return to normal position or to hold the mechanism in normal position while placing an ice tray in or upon its support within the ice making compartment so that the releasing means of the mechanism will not interfere with the replacement operation of the ice tray.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism for releasing an ice tray from its support within an evaporator of a refrigerating apparatus, and more particularly to means in conjunction with such mechanism for preventing the mechanism from becoming inoperative while positioned therein.

Another object of the resent invention is to provide means for re easing an ice tray from its support Within an evaporator of a refrigerating apparatus, which means will not interfere with the operation of inserting or replacing theA ice tray in or on its support.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form ofy the clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. l 'is a vertical cross sectional view partly in elevation of a refrigerator embodyinmy invention;

ig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of a portion of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken ou the lines present invention is 3-3 of Fig.`2 showing an ice tray releasing device in normal position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the lines 4 4 of Fig. 2 showing an ice tray releasing device in operative position; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view 'taken on the lines v 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, have shown a refrigerator cabinet embodyinginy invention generally designated as 20, having a. cooling unit or evaporator in a compartment 21, which cooling unit is generally designated as 22, and may be 'supported in the compartment 21 of the cabinet 2O by any suitable means generally designated as 23. The. front of the cooling unit 22 may be encased by the partition 24 having openings 25 through which ice trays generally designated as 26 may be inserted. The cooling unit 22 may be further provided with sleeves 27 forming 'sup` ports for the ice trays 26 or forming freezing compartments within the evaporator for the reception of the trays 26. These sleeves 27 are adapted to cover the main body portion. of the ice trays in order to prevent the drip from the cooling unit from entering the ice tray. .The sleeves 27 arespaced front partition 24 for-the purpose of breaking the metal to metal contact between the evaporator 22 and partition 24 so that frosting of the partition is retarded. A portion of the tray, however, extends into thespace between artition 24 and the sleeve 27 and drip is liliely vto fall onor in this extension as will appear hereinafter.

An ice tray embodying my invention may comprise an ice compartment 30, adapted to receive ice cube forming means, surrounded by walls having a rounded rim 32 on top. The rounded rim 32 extends preferably, but not necessarily, around the entire top. An extension or handle portion of the ice tray may be integral with the rounded rim 32 and has a portion 33 extending in a horizontal plane slightly below the top surface of the tray. The portion 33 may be bent to extend vertically for a distance as shown at 35, which vertical portion is spaced from the body of fiom thethe horizontal portion 33 and extends/from the lower edge of the vertical portion 35 to a point on the rim 32 or body of the tray just beyond the portion 33 and provides a brace for strengthening the connection between the vertical portion 35 and the body of the tray. The vertical portion 35 of the tray may be provided with an ornamental sealing cover 38 and is secured to the portion 35 by screws 39.

The space between the body of tray 26 and the vertical portion 35 thereof provides a desirable location for a mechanism employed to break the ice bond between the tray 26 and its support 27 so that the tray can be center of the tray. It is apparent from the drawings that the cam 41 of my mechanism is adapted to engage a portion of the support or sleeve 27 located between the shaft` 45 and the vertical center of tray 26. Plate 46 is secured by the screws 39 to the vertical portion 35 of the tray 26. Shaft 45 is held in position in the plate 46 by a nut 48. The plate 46 has an inwardly bent or extending portion 49 to which one end 51 of a U-shaped spring member 52 is secured by the bolt U- shaped spring member 52 has its other free end 54 secured or held under a hook or finger portion 55 of the arm 42. The shaft 45 ex'-v tends through the portion 35 of the tray and through the tray front or sealing cover 38 and may have a handle member 57 secured thereto or formed integral with the shaft. This handle member 57 is pivotally and rotatably mounted at one side of the tray 26, that is, remote from the vertical center of the tray, and serves as a lever or means for actuating or rotating arm 42 and the cam 41 secured thereto in order to break an ice bond between the tray 26 and its support. Member 57, while in its normal position, is horizontally disposed and also provides a handle for withdrawing the tray from the sleeve 27.

The tray 26 having been filled with water to be frozen and having been inserted in the sleeve 27, or the freezing compartment formed thereby,some of this Water may have overflowed from the tray or may-have been splashed therefrom while being inserted in the sleeves 27. the bottom of the tray and clings thereto and when frozen by the evaporator forms an ice bond between the tray and its support. Ordinarily this renders removal of the tray from the sleeve very difficult and has caused This overfiow Water runs to handles on the trays and the tray fronts to become damaged or broken while endeavoring to remove the tray. In the structure disclosed this difficulty has been eliminated. B grasping and rotating the handle member 5 the cam 41 is caused to rotate into engagement with the tray support or the bottom wall of sleeve 27 and upon further movement of the cam 41 the tray 26 will be pried or broken loose from the support and may then be easily removed from the sleeve 27 (see Figs. 2 and 4).

Mechanis of this type heretofore employed hadv several disadvantages, one of which was that of not protectino' the mechanism from moisture which collects on the evaporator and on other parts in-close proximity thereto, which moisture is likely to drip or fiow onto or into the mechanism. When this moisture drips or flows on the mechanism it will be frozen by the cooling effect of the evaporator and will prevent the mechanism from being actuated, thereby rendering the mechanism inoperative. Another disadvantage of such mechanisms was that the handle or lever for actuating the cam of the mechanism would have to be manually returned to normal position or held in such position so that the cam would not interfere with the operation of replacing the ltray in its sleeve or on its support.

My invention is particularly directed to a mechanism in which the disadvantages pointed out above are eliminated. It will be seen jfrom the foregoing description that the spring member 52 of my device or mechanism is under tension at all times and will therefore mechanically return cam 41 and the handle or lever 57 for operating thefcam to normal position simultaneously when released after being actuated for the purpose described. Cam 41, being maintained in a normal position or in a position within the general outline of one end of the tray prevents it from striking the tray support or sleeve while being inserted therein. Thus it is apparent that the annoyance of splashing or spilling the contents of the tray therefrom while placing the tray in position is eliminated. The horizontal portion 33 of the tray 26 is continuous throughout its dimensions and provides a cover or shield for the mechanism disposed therebelow. Moisture collecting on the partition 24 or other parts ofthe refrigerator located above the open end of sleeves 27 is prevented by the cover or horizontal portion 33 of the tray fromfiowing onto or into the mechanism. This thereby prevents the mechanism from becoming inoperative while being located in the evaporator.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided an improved mechanism fork releasing an ice tray from its support, which mechanlsm can be concealed l1n a portion of the ice tray and can be constructed so as to be a unitary structure with the tray. My improved mechanism also eliminates the Adiliiculties and disadvantages hereinbefore ing an arm pivotally mounted to said con' tainer at a point remote from the vertical center thereof, said arm including a camming portion adapted to engage said support at a point between the vertical center of said container and said pivot point of said arm, and handle means havin one end thereof secured to the pivot point o said arm for actuating said cam'ming portion of said arm into engagement with said support.

2. refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an evaporator, a container to be cooled by said evaporator, a support for said container, means for separating the container from said support, said means including a shaft rotatably mounted on said cons tainer at a point remote from the vertical center thereof, an arm mounted on said shat and having a camming portion adapted to engage said support between the vertical center of said container and said shaft, and means for actuating said shaft including a lever having one end thereof secured to said shaft.

3. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an evaporator, a container member to be cooled by'said evaporator, a support member for said container member, means for'separating said container member from said support member, means for actuating said separating means, said separating means including an arm pivotally mounted to one of said members at a point remote from the vertical center of said container member, said arm including a cumming ortion adapted to engage one of said mem rs at a point between the vertical center 'of said container member and said pivot point of said arm, said actuating means including a handle having one end thereof secured to the pivot point of said arm for moving said camming portion of said arm relative to one of said members.

4. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an evaporator, a container member to be cooled by said evaporator, a support member for said container member, means for separating said container member from said support member, means for actuating said separating means, said separatmg means lncludin an arm plvotally mounted to one of said members at a point: remote from the vertical center of sald container member, said arm including a camming portion adapted to engage one of said members at a point between the vertical center of said container member and said pivot point of said arm, said actuating means including a handle having one end thereof secured to the pivot point of Vsaid arm for moving said camming portion of said arm rela` vtive to one ot said members, and means on said container member for preventing the dow of drip from said evaporator onto said pivot point of said arm.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an evaporator, a container member to be cooled by said evaporator, a

support member for said container member, means for separating said container member from said support member, means for actuating said separating means, said separating means including an arm pivotally mounted to one of said members at a point remote from the vertical center of said container member, said arm including a camming portion adapted to engage one of said members at a point between the vertical center of said container member and said pivot point of said arm, said actuating means including a handle having one end thereof secured to the pivot point of said arm for moving said camming portion of said arm relative to one of said members, and a mechanism carried by one of said members and engaging said arm for automatically returning said arm to normal position. c

6. A. refrigerating apparatus comprising .in combination, an evaporator, a container member to be cooled by said evaporator, a support member for said container member, means for sepa-rating said container member from saidsupport member, means for actuating said separating means, said separating means including an arm pivotally mounted to one of said members at a point remote from the vertical center of said container member, i

said arm including a camming portion adapted to engage one ot said members at apoint between the vertical center of said container member and said pivot point of said arm,

-said -actuating means including a handle having one end thereof secured to the pivot point of said arm` for moving said camming portion of said arm relative to one of said members, and a mechanism carried by one of said members and engaging said arm for automatically and simultaneously returning said arm and said handle to normal position.

7. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, .an evaporator, a container member to be cooled by said evaporator, a support member for said container member, means for separating said container member from said support member, means for actuating said separating means, said separating means including an arm pivotally mounted to one of said members at a point remote from the vertical center of said container member, said arm including a camming portion adapted to engage one of said members at a point between the vertical center of said container member and said pivot point of said arm, said actuating means including a handle having one end thereof secured to the pivot point of said arm for moving said camming portion of said arm relative to one of said members, means on said container member for preventing the flow of drip from said evaporator onto said pivot point of said arm, and a mechanism carried by one of said members for automatically returning said arm to normal position.

8. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an evaporator, a container to be cooled by said evaporator, a support for said container, means for separating the container from said support, said means including an arm pivotally mounted to said container at a point remote from the vertlcal c enter thereof, said arm including a camming portion adapted to engage said supportat a point between the vertical' center of sa1d container and said pivot point of said arm, handle means having one end thereof secured to the pivot point of said arm for actuating said camming portion of said arm into engagement with said support, and means on said container for preventing the flow of drip from said evaporator onto said pivot point of said arm. U

9. A refrigerating apparatus comprsing in combination, an evaporator, a contalner to be cooled by said evaporator, a support for said container, means for separating the container from said support, said means including an arm pivotally mounted to s aid container at a point remote from the vertical center thereof, said arm including a camming portion adapted to vengage said support at a point between the vertical center of said container and said pivot point of said arm, handlemeans having one end thereof secured to the pivot of said arm for actuating said camming portion of said arm into engagement with said support, and a mechanism carried by said container and engaging said arm for automatically returning said arm to normal position.l

l0. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an evaporator, a container to be Vcooled by said evaporator, a support for said container, means for separating the container from said support, said means including an arm pivotally mounted to said container at a point remote from the vertical center thereof, said arm including a camming portion adapted to engage said support at a point between the vertical center of said container and said pivot point of said arm, handle means having one end thereof secured to the pivot point of said arm for actuating said camming portion of said arm into engagement with said support,

and a mechanism carried by said container and engaging said arm for automatically and simultaneously returninglsaid arm and said handle means to normal position.

l1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an evaporator, a container to be cooled by said evaporator, a support for said container, means for separating the container'from said support, said means including an arm pivotally mounted to said container at a point remote from the Vertical center thereof, said arm including a camming portion adapted to engage said support at a point between the vertical center of said container and said pivot point of said arm, handle means having one end thereof secured to the pivot point of said arm for actuating said camming portion `of said `arm into engagement with said support,

means on said container arm for preventing the flow of drip from said evaporator onto said pivot point of said arm, and a mechanism carried by said container and engaging said arm for automatically returning said arm to normal position.

12. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an evaporator, a container to be cooled by said evaporator, a support for said container, means for separating the container from said support, said means including an arm-pivotally mounted to' said container at a point remote from the vertical.

center thereof, said arm including a camming portion adapted to engage said support at a point between the vertical center of said container and said pivot point of said arm, handle means having one ,end thereof secured to the pivot point of said arm for actuating said camming portion of said arm into engagement with said support, and a U-shaped spring carriedI by said container and having one end thereof engaging a portion of said arm for automatically return- A ing said arm to normal position.

13. A refrigerating apparatus comprising inV combination, an evaporator, a container to be cooled by said evaporator, a support for said container, means for separating the container from said support, said means including an arm pivotally mounted to said container at a point remote from the vertical center thereof, said arm including a camming portion adapted to engage said support at a point between the vertical center of said container and said pivot point of said arm, handle means having one end thereof secured to the pivot point of said arm for actuating said camming portion of said arm into engagement with said support, a tainer is substantially peeled from said sup- U-shaped spring carried by said container and having one end thereot1 engaging a portion of said arm for automatically returning said arm to normal position, and means on said container for preventing the flow of drip from said evaporator onto said pivot point of said arm and said spring, said last named means providing a stop for said arm.

14. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an evaporator, a container to be cooled by said evaporator, a support for said container,'means for separating the container from said support, said means including an arm pivotally mounted to said container at a point remote from the vertical center thereof, said arm including a camming portion adapted to engagesaid support at a point between the vertical center ,of said container and said pivot point of said arm, handle means having one end thereof secured to the pivot point of said arm for actuating said camming portion ct said arm into engagement with said support, a U-shaped spring carried by said container and having one end thereof engaging a portion of said arm for automatically and simultaneously returning said arm and said handle means to normal position, and means on said container for preventing the flow of drip from said evaporator onto said pivot point of said arm and said spring, said last named means providing a stop for said arm and said handle means.

15. A refrigerating apparatus comprising in combination, an evaporator, a container to be cooled by said evaporator, a support for said container, handle means pivotally mounted near the edge of one end of said container for moving the container longitudinally with respect to the support, means actuated by said handle means for separating the container from said support, said separating means including an arm having, one end thereof secured to the pivotal mounting point of said handle means to said container, said arm including a camming portion adapted to engage said support at a point spaced laterally from the pivot point of said handle means and said arm and out of alignment with the vertical center of said container.

16. In refrigerating apparatus including port. In testimony whereof I hereto aliix my signature.

an evaporator, a container, a support for supporting the container in heatexchange relation to said evaporator and wherein an ice bond between the container and the support normally forms, a handle for moving the container relative to said support,I and means actuated by said handle for breaking the ice bond between the container and the support, said means exerting all of its initial force on one side of the longitudinal vertical center of said container and at a point spaced substantially from said center whereby the con- GEORGE F. HOFFERBERTH. 

